Eotaet excavator for removing snow



(No Model.) a sneem-sheet 1. E. LESLIE. ROTARY EXOAVATOR FOR REMOVINGSNOW.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888..

ATTORNEY.

"(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet '2. E. LESLIE.

ROTARY EXGAVATOR FOR REMOVING SNOW. N0. 391,903.

Patented Oct. 30, 1888.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

Tans co, woro-uma, msmmnm u (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. LESLIE.

ROTARY EXGAVATOR FOR REMOVING snow. No. 391,903. Patented Oct. 80 1888.

o .8 O t 8 /f' O 1 WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.

ma NORRIS warms co Pmn UNITED STATES EDWARD LESLIE, OF ORANGEVILLE,ONTARIO, CANADA.

ROTARY EXCAVATOR FOR REMOVING SNOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,903, dated October30, 1888.

Application filed April ll, 1883.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD LEsLrE, of Orangeville, in the county ofDufferin, Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada, have invented anew and Improved Rotary Excavator for Removing Snow, ofwhich .thehollowing is a full, clear, and exact descriptlon.

The invention relates to a rotary excavator for removing snow, for whichUnited States Letters Patent No. 380,809, dated April 10, 1888, weregranted to me.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedexcavator which very effectually and rapidly removes the snow fromthetiaek, prevents the clogging of the working parts, and automaticallylocks the reversing knives in position.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1. is a front elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectionalside elevation of the same on the line :0 as of Fig. 1. Fig. Bis anenlarged plan View of part ofthe outer ring. Fig. 4 is an enlarged planview ofone of the reversible middle knives. Fig. 5 is an enlarged planview of one of the innerknives. Fig. (i is a sectional plan view of thesame, and Fig. '7 is an enlarged inverted plan view of part of one ofthemiddle knives.

The improved excavator is preferably mounted on a car supporting at itsfront end the stationary casing A, provided on its front with a squarehood, B, similar in shape and form to the hood referred to in the patentabove mentioned. On the car is mounted to rotate the horizontal shaft O,extending centrally through the casing A. and carrying on its outer enda wheel, D, rotating in the casing A. The wheelD is provided with a hub,E, fastened on the said shaft G, and on the inner end ofthe hub issecured the circular plate F, placed near the inner wall of the casing Awithout touching the same.

The hub E is preferably made in two parts bolted together, as shown inFig. 2, and on Serial No 270,347. (Namath-l.)

the outer end of the hub is held "a cone, H, extending a suitabledistance into the flaring hood B. From the front part of the hub Eextend the spokes G, on the outer end of which is secured a ring, I,from which extend the radial wings or fans J in line with the spokesG,before mentioned. Wings or fans J, similar to the wings J, extendradially from the said ring I, but are located midway between the saidwings J. The wings J and J extend to the inner plate, F, to which theyare also sccured.

The wings J and J are provided with recesses or slots J, located attheir front edges, at about the middle, and in these recesses is secnredthe ring K, held concentrically with the ring I. The front top ends ofthe wings or fans J and J are covered bya ring, L, secured to the wingsin any suitable manner and arranged concentric withtherings K andl. Therings K and L are also connected with each other by radial bracesN,located between two successive vvings,.l and J, and diagonal braces Oextend from the lower ends of the wings J to the upper ends ofthe wingsJ on each side of the respective wings J, and the braces l extend fromthe said wings J to the ring K, as is plainly shown in Fig. 1.

On the outer end and in front of each spoke G is formed a lug, G,through which passes the radial shaft or rod Q, extending inward andbeing fastened on the outer end of the hub E, as is plainly shown inFig. 2. On each shaft or rod Q is held to swing aknife, Q, consisting ofthe arms Q and Q5, pivoted on the said rod Q, and supporting the knifeblade Q, slightly bent inward at its lower end, Qf, toward the cone H.The pivoted ends of the upper arms, Q", each carry an angular piece, Q,adapted to rest with its inner edges alternately against the edge of thering I, as is plainly shown in Fig. 5, and the ends of the pivoted endpieces, Q of the lower arms, Q", extend in line with the face of theknife-blade Q and a short distance to each side of the shaft or rod Q.The ends of the pieces Q, are adapted to rest alternately on aprojection, E, formed on the hub E, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.

WVhen the wheel D rotates in one direction, then one arm of the angularpiece Q and the corresponding end of the piece Q] rcst,respectively, onthe ring I and the projection E at one side of the shaft Q, and when thewheel D is turned in the opposite direction the other arm of the angularpiece Q and the corresponding end of the piece Q rest on the ring I andthe projection B, respectively, at the other side of the shaft Q. Theknife-blade Q stands in either case inclined to the face of the wheel D,as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Between the rings I and K are placed the reversible knives R of a numberequal to the knives Q. and located between two successive knives Q, buta little nearer to the face of the wheel. Each knife R is preferablymade rectangular in shape, with sharpened side edges. On the rings I andK are secured the outwardly-extending brackets Iand K, on'twocorresponding ones of which is held a shaft or rod, 1%., in line withthe radial wings or fans J. On each shaft or rod R is held to swing oneof the knives It, provided on its up-- per end with an arm, It",extending inwardly and at right angles to the knives R, and having alug, R, adapted to rest against alng, K, formed on the under side of thebracket K,

'(see Fig. 4,)fso as to hold the knife R in an bracket K.

When the wheel D rotates in one direction, the lug R rests against oneside of the lug K and when the motion of the wheel is reversed then thelug R? passes over the lug K the compression of the spring. R permittinga slight inwardsliding movement of the knife .3 on its shaft R, and thelug It then rests against the other side of the stationarylug K Thecentrifugal force of the rotating wheel D causes the knife R to pressoutward, so that the arm R presses against the under side of the bracketK, whereby the lug It is held firmly in'place on either side of thefixed lug K aided by the spring 1%". The knife R is thus held in anangular position in relation to the face of the wheel D. At the momentthat the wheel D is reversed the'centrifugal force is zero, and thespring is sufficiently compressed by the knife'coming in contact withthe snow to permit the lug R to pass over the lug K" to the other sideof the latter.

It holds the knife R in this reversed position in the same manner asabove described.

On the rings K and L, and in frontof the wings J, are secured theoutwardly-extending brackets K and L, on two corresponding ones of whichis held the shaft or rod S, arranged radially and in line with therespective wing J. "On each rod S is held to swing a knife, S, similarin shape and form to the knife R,above described. The shaft or rod S is,however, set farther inward toward the face of the wheel D, so that thethree sets of knives Q, R, and S are above and in front of each other,as is The cen-v trifugal force of the wheel D and the spring plainlyshown in Fig. 2. The knife S is also provided on its upper end with anarm, S extending inward and carrying a lug, S, adapted to rest on thesides of a lug, L held on the under side of the bracket L, and a spring,S, is fastened on the shaft or rod S and presses the knife outward onthe shaft S. This arrangement is the same as above described inreference to the knife R and serves the same purpose-that is, to permitan auto maticreversing of the knife and to lock it in place after beingreversed.

It will be seen that the knives S are the same in number as the knives Rand Q, and are lo cated in line with the latter and between the knivesR. The space between the rings Q and L and two successive knives S iscovered by a plate, T, held on the front of the said rings K and L andsecured to the latter and to the braces N in any suitable manner.

To the outer side of the ring L, above each knife S, is secured asegmental plate,U,whieh projects outward to the outer edge of the knifeS, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The inner end,U,of the segmentalplate U is turned upward at right angles and extends to within a shortdistance of the hood B. The front end of the segmental plate U forms aprotection for the top edge of the knife S, and the turned up'cnd Uforms a packing for the wheel D and the hood B, so as to prevent thesnow from clogging between the hood and the radial wings J 1 On the endsof the segmentalplate U are secured,by rivets or other means,theupwardly and outwardly inclined cutters V and V, respectively, the outercutting-edges of which extend to .within a short distance of the hood B.A strengthening-plate, V is secured to the top of the ring L and extendsoutward over the inclined plate V or V, respectively, to prevent thelatterfrom being broken. The cutters V and V serve to cut up the snow inthe hood B, so that all clogging of the wheel D is prevented. The casingA is provided with the usual spout, A, which serves to lead the snow toone side of the railroad-track.

The operation is as follows: When the shaft 0 is rotated inthe directionof the arrow a, then the three sets of knives Q, It, and S are opened inthe direction of the rotation of the wheel, and the knives R and- S,are, additionallylocked in place by the lugs R S respectively engagingthe lugs K L", as above de scribed. The snow thus passes into theopenings formed by the respective knives in the front of the wheel D,and the snow in the center of the hood D is pushed by the coneH upwardand into the opening formed by the innermost set of knives,Q. The snow,after entering the wheel D, is forced out of the same by the wings orfahsJinto the spout A-,which leadsthe snow to one side of the track. Thesnow cut by the knives Q passes to the inside of the wheel D between thering I and the hub E, and does not-come in contact, on its outwardmovement caused by the wings J, with the snow from the knives It, as thelatter are located alternately with the said knives Q and above thelatter and nearer to the rim of the wheel D. The snow out by the knivesQ is thrown against the lower part of the wings J, while the snow cut bythe knives R passes onto the wings J. The snow cut by theknives It alsodoes not come in contact with the snow cut by the knives S, as thelatter are located alternately between the knives It above the same andnearer to. the rim of the wheel I). The snow from the knives S passes tothe wings .I, while the snow from the knives It passes directly onto thewings J. lhus the several sets of knives cut the snow in the hoodBindependently of each other and deliver it to the wings or fans J and Jwithout crowding or clogging thesame, so that the wheel D revolvesfreely and very easily, requiring less motive power for revolving it.

It will be seen that the various braces strengthen the wheel materially,so that the latter is notvery liable to be broken or to getout of order.

When the machine commences to operate, thcnthe inner knives, Q, comefirst in contact with the snow, thus making the first cut,which is thehardest and over which the engine has the most power. the center of thesnow, thereby permitting the snow in the hood I to compress toward thecenter, making it easier for the other sets of knives, It and S, to cut,and the machine is more easily moved forward into the snow. The innerknives, Q, may be extended outward to the front end of the square hood13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary excavator, a revolving wheel provided with radial wingsor fans and sets of knives held on the front of the said wheels andlocated one in front of the other, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a rotary excavator, a revolving wheel provided with radial wingsor fans and sets of knives held on the said wheel and arranged one abovethe other and one in front of the other, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with a central cone at its front and radial wings or fans, ofsets of knives arranged one above the other and arranged alternately,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with a central cone held at its front end, of radial wings orfans held on the said wheel, sets of reversi ble knives held on thefront of the said wheel and located one above the other and one in frontof the other, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheel, ofradial fans held on the said wheel and three sets of self-rovers Thefirst out makes a hole in ing knives held in front of the said wheel andarranged alternately and one above the other and one in front of theother, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a rotary excavator, the combination. with a wheel having radialwings or fans, of selfreversing knives held on the front of the saidwheel and locked automatically in place, substantially as shown anddescribed.

7. In a rotary excavator, the col'nbination, with a wheel having radialwings or fans, of self-reversing knives held on the front of the saidwheel, and means, substantially as de scribed, for automatically lockingthe said knives in place, as set forth.

8. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with radial wings or fans and a conein its centerin front, ofan inner set of knives held in front of the said wheel, a middle set ofknives held on the front of the said wheel, the several knives of thisset being placed alternately with the several knives of the said innerset of knives, and an outer set otknives, also held on the front of thesaid wheel, and having its several knives located alternately with theseveral knives of the said middle set of knives, substantially as shownand described.

l. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with radial wings or fans and a cone in its center in front, ofan inner set of knives held in front of the said wheel, a middle set ofknives held onthe front of the said wheel, the several knives of thisset being placed alternately with the several knives of the said innerset of knives, and an outer set of knives, also held on the front of thesaid wheel, and having its several knives located alternately with theseveral knives of the said middle set of knives, the

said several sets of knives being placed one in front of the other,substantially as shown and described.

10. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with radial wings or fans and a cone in its centerin front, ofan inner set of knives held in front of the said wheel, a middle set ofknives held on the front of the said wheel, the several knives of thisset being placed alternately with the several knives of the said innerset oi knives, and an outer set of knives, also held on the front of thesaid wheel,and having its several knives located alternately with theseveral knives of the said middle set of knives, and covering-platesheld on the said wheel between the successiveknives of the outer set ofknives, substantially as shown and described.

11.. In a rotary excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheelprovided with radial wings or fans and a conein its center in front, ofan inner set of knives held in front of the said wheel, a middle set ofknives held on the front of the said wheel, the several knives of thisset being placed alternately with the several knives of the said innerset of knives, and an outer set of knives, alsoheld on the front of thesaid. wheel,and having its several knives located alternately with theseveral knives of the said middle set of knives, the said several setsof knives being reversible and adapted to lock themselves automaticallyin place on the said whee], substantially as shown and described.

12. In an excavator, the combination, with a stationary hood, of arevolving wheel provided with sets of knives and cutters held on the rimof the said wheel and extending horizontally outward and upward towardthe said hood to direct the snow to the said knives, substantially asshown and described.

13. In an excavator, the combination, with a hood, of a revolving wheelprovided with sets of knives and radial wings or fans, and inclinedcutters held on the periphery of the said wheel and extending outwardtoward the said hood in front of the said wheel to direct the snow tothe said k nives,substantially as shown and described.

1'4. In an excavator, the combination, with a hood and aeasingsupportingthe said hood,of a wheel held to revolve in the said casing and providedwith radial wings or fans, sets of self-reversing knives held in frontof the said wheel in the said hood, and inclined cutters held on theperiphery of the said wheel and extending outward toward the said hoodin front of the wheel to direct the snow to the scribed.

15. In an excavator, the combination, with a fixed casing and a hoodsupported in the same, of a wheel held to rotate in the said casing andprovided with sets of reversing-knives and segmental plates held on thesaid wheel, and having an upwardly-turned inner edge extending towardthe said hood to prevent the snow from. passing from the fans to thefrontof the wheel, substantially as shown and described.

16. In an excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheel, of knivesheld to swing on the front of the said wheel, an arm extending from thesaid knives and provided with a lug, and a fixed lug held on the saidwheel and engaged by thelug on the said arm, substantially as shown anddescribed.

17. In an excavator, the combination, with a revolving wheel, of knivesheld to swing on the front of the said wheel, an arm extending from thesaid knives and provided with a lug, a fixed lug held on the said wheeland engaged by the lug on thesaid arm, and aspring pressing against thesaid knife to hold the lug ot' itsarm in contact with the said lug onthe said wheel, and also permitting the said arm to pass with its lugover the fixed lug when the'wheel is reversed, substantially as shownand described.

' EDWARD LESLIE.

Witnesses:

Tnno. G. Hos'rnn, O. Snnowrox.

